I took a look at the NDCA website in response to Clary's note in another thread. While there, I noticed an announcement on their News & Press page about a committee being formed to join the NDCA and USADance into one body. The announcement was apparently made in August but I very seldom look at that feature.

As an active amateur competitor, I personally hate this idea. One is an organization primarily for professionals and the other for amateurs. They represent different constituencies and, if combined, the interests of the amateur dancing community would not be well served.

Most of us are not interested the political side of dancing although we should be. It doesn`t matter which country or name your Dance Society goes under if you trace it right through you will finish with the battle between the IDSF and the WDC..The IDSF the Amatuer Society started a Professional Branch. So the WDC the Professionals started a AmateurSection.The IDSF have stated ( anybody can read this ) that they will ban any Amatuer or Judge or helper who takes part in any competition not sanctioned by the IDSF.The WDC will allow any competitor or judge or helper regardless of where or who they are to take part.A few years ago in Canada there was a competition in which Professionals and Amateurs competed against each other, this was the way it was going to be. Then up went the Iron Curtain. There are doorways once a year through that Iron Curtain and that is the British at Blackpool and the UK in Bournmouth . Both of these are too powerfull for the IDSF to flex their muscles and impose a ban as they did at Assen in Holland. But it has been rumoured.As I said before . Most of us just want to dance, but having read this at least we now know that all is not well .

As reported in Dancesport UK.The WDC Amateure League Open World Championships at Disney Land Paris France now.Total entries at the last count is reported to be in excess of 1,300.The IDSF have said that anybody conected to a none sanctioned event risk being banned from any sanctioned event.So by their own rules they either carry out this threat or change it.But what they will do is be very choosey who they make life hard for in the future.Don`t forget you can`t even be a Car Park Attendant without the risk of sanctions being taken out against you.

Thanks for the information. It's always good to know that there is some support for truth and justice in the dance world (actually, I don't really know if the WDC is any better).

I wonder what the possibility is that we may see this issue in the courts some day. Are you aware of any cases of significance (e.g. not one of thos contract-abuse scandals) in the area of competition governance?

We are all aware of what a hugh sport Soccer is today. But did you know that not that many years ago a Belgium soccer player went to court and got a ruling against the Controlling Body who had a rule that only( I think it was three ) foreign players could play in one team, or even be on their books.He was being stopped by this rule from playing in the UK. He won.Lets look at an Ajudicator in Ballroom Dancing. Is it lawfull to dictate to them who they can and can`t work for. That to me is against the law and would not stand up in a court of law..If you want to read more on this go to Dancesport UK and on the right click on DancesportInfo Net and scroll down looking to your right and click on any of the topics under discussion.And if you want to know the IDSF their policies. That can be found by clicking on IDSF Rules and World Rankings also on Dancsport UK. and then Unregistered Events. You will see a list of competitions that you cannot enter at the risk of having a ban placed on you. The last paragraph lets you know in no uncertain manner what will happen to you if you defy their ruling. The WDC have no such rule.

So no couples in the WDC`s World Amateur Championships from Paris were competing from the UK. USA and Australia. It would seem that in the UK the EADA and in Australia Dancesport Australia are following the IDSF ruling.. On the Australian official Web site there is no mention of banned competitions. Neither is there on the U K`s EADA web site. I would say it it safe to say that there is nothing on the USA controlling body either. Which means the IDSF have complete control over those Societies.Playing about with words. The IDSF controlled competitions are not Open Championships. They are Closed Championships and should be called accordingly.